France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur) vs Spain Non-Lucrative Visa

About France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur)

France's Long-Stay Visitor visa (VLS-TS Visiteur) is a one-year, annually renewable permit for financially independent people, often retirees, who want to live in France without working. Applicants demonstrate stable passive income of roughly EUR 1,500/month (~USD 1,640) from pensions, investments or rent (assessed case-by-case by consular officers, not a fixed statutory figure; couples show proportionally more), plus health insurance and accommodation. Crucially, no professional activity of any kind is permitted, including remote work for foreign clients, a grey zone occasionally enforced against digital nomads. The visa doubles as a residence permit and must be validated within 3 months of arrival via the ANEF portal; holders must reside primarily in France and become French tax residents on worldwide income (typically after 183 days). Each accompanying family member files their own permit. First-year costs run about USD 5,500-12,000. After 5 years of continuous residence, holders can pursue a long-term card and, with B1 French and a civics test, citizenship; dual nationality is allowed.

About Spain Non-Lucrative Visa

Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa is a passive-income residence for people who can support themselves without any work in Spain—crucially, it prohibits all employment, including remote work for foreign employers, which Spain strictly enforces. The defining requirement is passive income of at least ~€2,400/month (400% of the IPREM index), or equivalent savings around €28,800, plus €600/month per dependent family member, and private health insurance with no co-pays or coverage limits (a common rejection reason). The application fee is about $160, with realistic first-year costs of $5,000–9,500. Processing takes roughly 18–36 weeks. Spouse and children can be included. Holders must spend at least 183 days per year in Spain, which triggers Spanish tax residency on worldwide income; the Beckham Law's 24% flat rate generally isn't available to NLV holders since it requires a Spanish employer or director role. Permanent residency comes after five years and citizenship after ten (A2 Spanish)—but Spain does not allow dual citizenship with most countries, so naturalising usually means renouncing your original nationality.